beginners guide to brushing boots

[Donkey66]

I've been told that I need to buy a pair of brushing boots for my horse for driving, as an amateur and happy hacker I have always avoided using boots.
So educate me please, what is a good brushing boot? What is a bad one? Do I have to buy and try on?
Horse is full size and has small amount of feather that I trim off irregularly.

 

[Abbeygale]

My preference is always for woof wear boots. There are some cheaper than them, but they are really long lasting and tough. I've never had WW boots slip or twist (compared to PE boots I saw on a xc recently that slipped on every horse I saw as soon as they went through water!!). My last set of double Velcro ones lasted well over 10 years. They can be just chucked in the washing machine and dry quickly.

 

[TrasaM]

I'm just getting to grips with the same thing I've never had to use them before but share horse wears them for hacking or schooling. I've just bought tendon boots for his fronts because his existing ones, open fronted with leather straps, were a nuisance to put on.
Just Got some Masta tendon boots full size, for him and they fit both him (TB) and ASBO cob. His brushing boots are the neoprene type with Velcro fixings. I did have to do some research before I got them as it's all so very confusing and so many to chose from.

 

[starryeyed]

I'd definitely recommend Woof Wear brushing boots out of all boots - they are incredible things! They really do their job, are very protective, never slip or turn - and are so, so durable. They will last you forever. They either come with standard straps (which fasten towards the back), or you can get "double lock" straps (first strap fastens back, second strap covers it and faces the front), which are a bit more secure - but saying this, I've never had straps come undone on the standard boots and I've been using them every day for years.
If your horse takes full size then he probably will be full size in these - if you buy them an online tack shop then the majority will exchange if the size isn't quite right x

 

[blood_magik]

woofwear are good - i have a pair that i bought 6 years ago and they're still in good nick. I also like the mark Todd carbon XC boots.

 

[rara007]

WW are good Or zilco if you want to be on-trend Or premier equine for air cooled

 

[cob&onion]

I have 2 pairs of the WW ones, i agree they are hard wearing and seem to last forever and don't slip!

 

[Luci07]

I am going to buck the trend here! I now use tri zone cooling boots, they,look as if they are perforated but had reinforced support over the tendon. Don't slip and my horses legs never heat up. I schooled today (so mean) and he needed to be washed down when we had finished. His legs were, however, completely cool and sweat free so no worries about over heating tendons.

 

[Tern]

Woof Wear, brought hind ones 2nd hand from Blue Cross and have lasted at the moment Front ones are over 7 years of age and still look brand new (Until you look inside..)

 

[Donkey66]

Thanks for the replies, will look at WW, tri-zone, Zilco and Masta! any preference for shopping? I'll probably try RB Equestrian first.

 

[Donkey66]

so, been doing some research, what's the difference between brushing boots and schooling wraps? Would schooling wraps protect against brushing?

 

[Luci07]

No is the short answer if you are looking at the flexi wraps (and they are more expensive). Meant to offer protection for big moving horses but there is no padding so don't. If you mean the PE sports wraps, great protection and good value in the sales but ..and here is the but, blooming painful to put on and heat the horses legs up. I did use to use them in winter when the ground was sticky as they give great support but don't use them in my 6 year old currently as he moves awkwardly with the hind ones on for some reason.